On June 3rd, Volcan de Fuego erupted. As many previous trip participants recall, Fuego frequently shows signs of activity. Fuego’s eruption and pyroclastic flows quickly destroyed villages, coffee farms and a golf resort. According to recent news reports, 110 are confirmed dead and over 200 are missing.
Our partners at the EcoComal stove factory are all safe. Luckily, the factory is located on the other side of where the volcano erupted, sheltering them from the fast and deadly moving lava. Heavy ash continues to fall throughout the area as of recent reports. Vicky de Martinez, the social worker in Alotenango who recently helped us place 250 Ecocina cookstoves with your support, reported that the residents of Alotenango are safe, but shaken and worried for the well-being of family and friends.
StoveTeam continues to communicate with EcoComal and Vicky to keep tabs on their safety and the local need for clean cookstoves. Once the recovery process begins, StoveTeam plans to provide support through the continued distribution of safe cookstoves.